Cry foul: writer Richard O Smith took issue with a poor review of The Unbeatables.

He described Robbie Collin, the Telegraph's film critic, as a scourge of humanity on a par with Ebola, the conflict in Gaza, and Isis, now known as Islamic State.

"Perhaps he just doesn't like films? Working as a film reviewer must make him permanently furious, like someone allergic to cats working in a cattery," Smith said.

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The Unbeatables is an Argentinian-Spanish production directed by Juan José Campanella, the Oscar-winning filmmaker. It was released last year in the Spanish language to some acclaim.

Smith was hired to write dubbed dialogue for an English language version, to be voiced by a cast, including Rupert Grint and Rob Brydon.

The dubbed release did not attract the praise that greeted the original. Smith took particular issue with a tweet Collin sent, which read: "Even in a memorably bad summer for children, The Unbeatables is about as wretched as it gets."

His review added: "The Unbeatables, a half-Spanish, half-Argentinian cartoon about lead table footballers who come to life, is significantly less fun than playing with lead table footballers, or eating lead table footballers, or standing on lead table footballers in bare feet in the middle of the night while groping around for the light switch."

In his riposte, Smith wrote: "Even in a memorably bad summer for humanity (Israel/Palestine, Isis, Ebola), Robbie Collin is about as wretched as it gets."

He added: "Juan José Campanella won an Oscar for his last film [The Secret in their Eyes], so he probably knows what he's doing. How many Oscars has Collin won? No, winning 'World's Worst Critic' for so many consecutive years that he gets to keep the trophy outright doesn't count." Smith, 50, is a comedy writer who has contributed to BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz and Dara O'Briain's Science Club on BBC Two.

In an interview with his local paper, Smith admitted that writing dialogue to fit animated characters whose mouth movements were speaking the original Spanish lines was a challenge.

He said he had "no control over timing. It was very difficult getting them all to fit in with the lip syncing of the characters".

Collin said: "I'm sorry to hear that Mr Smith thought my review was pernicious. I can assure him, though, that I love my job and have enjoyed many films this year, just not his."

Even in a memorably bad summer for children's films, The Unbeatables is about as wretched as it gets. — Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews)
August 12, 2014

Even in a memorably bad summer for humanity (Israel/Palestine, ISIS, Ebola) Robbie Collin is about as wretched as it gets. — Richard O Smith (@RichardOSmith1)
August 16, 2014

I'm more proud of The Unbeatables than any episode of The Now Show I've done. And I'm very, very proud of The Now Show. — Richard O Smith (@RichardOSmith1)
August 19, 2014